Joe Hesch is a writer and poet friend of mine who lives near Albany, New York. Joe’s poems and stories are often inspired by his 350 year old hometown, and his work has appeared in Boston Literary Magazine, Wanderings Magazine, With Painted Words, Foliate Oak, Falling Star Magazine and other publications. He posts poems and stories-in-progress on his blog, http://athingforwordsjahesch.wordpress.com He is a member of the staff at dVerse Poets Pub website and community and was named one of Writers Digest Editor Robert Lee Brewer’s “2011 Best Tweeps for Writers to Follow.”

I’m thrilled to help celebrate this particular day with Joe, as he has been blogging for one year now. And in that 365 days, I’ve read some amazing works he has posted.

I sincerely hope you enjoy Joe’s work as much as I do; it’s a privilege to share this talented individual’s work with all of you. In addition to being a wonderful wordsmith, Joe is also a fantastic Twitteratti. Follow him and gain a great friend. His Twitter handle is @JAHesch.

My Island

The autumn rain lifted overnight,

and in the morning our road

seemed a seascape as I looked East,
a long black beach curving ahead of me.
The puddles were sun-mirrored tidal pools
surrounded by the final tossing
of russet shells from the oaks.
Above, a grand artist,
with wind-blown flourish,
had dry-brushed strokes of gray
over the white impastos He scattered
across a canvas of palest blue infinity.
And I, the sleepy suburban Crusoe,
breathed the sweet breeze of morning.

Come the Fall, the sky grows wider,
blacker, starrier as each night
the trees undress and become skinnier,
like movie starlets
trying to make a name for themselves
above some blockbuster’s title.
I become smaller now, a bit less significant
against the ever more vast darkness.
If that net of stars should drop
upon the now-drowsy Earth,
I bet I could slip through it and
peek backstage at The Firmament,
catching angels and gods in dishabille,
like the maples and starlets,
their wings and auras hanging from hooks
fashioned from mortal prayers
for another good harvest
or more nights like this.